Philippine Plumbing History & Regulations

• These study notes cover the history of plumbing codes, rules and regulations, principles and ethics, permits, inspections, and various aspects of drainage and plumbing.

Plumbing Code History

• In the 17th century, the plumbing profession began in the Philippines.
• The Walled City, Intramuros, was established as a model community by the Spaniards.
• Filipino plumbers maintained and remodeled plumbing systems in all "pueblos" (towns) in the 18th and 19th centuries.
• The arrival of American soldiers, engineers, teachers, doctors, and evangelists led to significant improvements in plumbing in the 20th century.
• Health and hygiene were prioritized, and a Letter of Instruction on waste disposal was issued by Governor General Harrison.
• In the early 1900s, the government recognized the plumbing trade.
• Manila became a model community, with John F. Hass as the first Chief of the Division of Plumbing Construction and Inspection.
• A plumbing code based on the Plumbing Code of the United States was incorporated into Manila's Building Code.
• NAMPAP (National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines) was organized from 1935 onwards.
• In 1954, the Third Congress approved House Bill No. 962.
• President Ramon Magsaysay signed RA 1378, the Plumbing Law of the Philippines, on June 18, 1955.
• The National Plumbing Code, prepared by NAMPAP, was approved in 1959 by Malacañang.
• NAMPAP assisted NAWASA in creating the National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority.
• A curriculum for Plumbing Engineering was prepared by the Board of Examiners for Master Plumbers and NAMPAP in 1966-1969.
• Plumbing Engineering was first approved by the Department of Education and introduced at Feati University.
• The first amendment to the National Plumbing Code on November 28, 1967, included "Asbestos-Cement Pipe" as an approved plumbing material.
• RA 6541 (Building Code of the Philippines) was passed in 1972, before martial law, with the "National Plumbing Code of 1959" as a referral code.
• NAMPAP created Plumbing Code Committees in 1994 and 1999 to amend/revise the National Plumbing Code.
• NAMPAP President JAIME M. CABASE spearheaded the updating of the Revised National Plumbing Code in 1996.
• In October 1999, NAMPAP submitted the Draft Code to the Board of Master Plumbers (BOMP), chaired by Engr. FORTUNATO H. AMOSCO.
• The Revised National Plumbing Code of 1999 was adopted on December 21, 1999 and issued at Manila Philippines on September 30, 1999, with approval of President Joseph Estrada, and PRC Chairman Hermogenes Pobre.
• The IRR of RA 1378 was adopted on April 18, 2024, and became effective on May 19, 2024.

RA 1378 Rules and Sections

• 1.4 provides the rules and sections of RA 1378.

Short Title & Practice of plumbing profession, Definition of Terms

• Rule I references short title, practices of plumbing profession and definition of terms
• Section 1: Short Title
• Section 2: Practice of Master Plumbing
• Section 3: Definition of Terms

Professional Regulatory Board for Master Plumbers

• Rule II references Professional Regulatory Board for Master Plumbers
• Section 4: Creation and Composition of the Board for Master Plumbers
• Section 5: Qualifications of the Members of the Board
• Section 6: Board, A Collegial Body
• Section 7: Meetings of the Board
• Section 8: Terms of Office
• Section 9: Removal of a Board Member
• Section 10: Compensation and Allowances of the Board Members
• Section 11: Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records, Secretariat and Support Services

Duties and responsibilities of the Board

• Rule III references duties and responsibilities
• Section 12: Duties and Functions of the Chairperson
• Section 13: Duties and Responsibilities of the Board

Basic principles in the practice of master plumbing

• Rule IV references basic principles in the practice of master plumbing
• Section 14: Basic Principles

Licensure Examination

• Rule V references licensure examination for the practice of Master Plumbing
• Section 15: Application for Master Plumber Licensure Examination (MPLE)
• Section 16: Subjects for the Master Plumber Licensure Examination (MPLE)

Code of Ethics

• 2.2 covers the code of ethics.
• Plumbers should act professionally and avoid demanding extra remuneration beyond original charges.
• Master Plumbers should not supplant another Master Plumber who has been contracted to perform the contract.
• Plumbers should not underbid another Master Plumber.
• Government plumbers must avoid competing unfairly.
• Registered Master Plumbers should not allow unlicensed plumbers to use their licenses without supervision.
• Plumbers must avoid injuring another plumber's reputation and self-laudatory advertising.

Administration

• 3.1 covers the administration.
• A permit must be secured from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) before plumbing work.

Application for Permit

• 3.2 covers application for permit
• A Registered and Licensed Master Plumber (RLMP) files the application at the OBO.
• Plans and specifications must be signed and sealed by an RLMP, per RA 1378.
• Six sets of all plumbing plans, drawings, diagrams, etc. must be submitted.

Other Info

• Administrative authority may require corrections of errors and may stop an on-going plumbing installation even if a permit has already been issued.
• Plumbing permits expire after 1 year.
• Permits become null and void after 120 days of suspended or abandoned work.
• The fee for renewal of a plumbing permit is 50% of the original fee.

Application for Existing Plumbing System

• Additions, alterations, or repairs must conform to new plumbing system requirements.
• Occupancy changes must comply with the National Building Code and Plumbing Code.
• Existing and new plumbing systems/materials must be maintained in proper condition.
• The owner/agent is responsible for plumbing system maintenance.

Inspections

• No plumbing system portion shall be concealed until inspected/approved.
• Additional and final inspections are required after installation completion.
• Plumbing systems must not connect to water, energy, or sewer systems without authorization.
• Licensed Master Plumbers must carry out all Administrative Plumbing Personnel/Plumbing Inspector duties.

More Info

• Operation of plumbing accessories replacing existing equipment is allowed with a filed inspection request of no more than 72 hours of the work being completed
• Inspection requests must be filed at least three working days beforehand, in writing, and jointly signed by the Owner and the Registered and Licensed Master Plumber-Contractor

Special Provision

• 3.8 references special provisions -A round seal must be made with the following: -Top: Registered and Licensed Master Plumber -The name of the plumber -Registration number -Bottom: the region/country (Philippines)

Material and Connections

• 4 refers to pipe materials and connections

Materials to use

• Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
• Polybutylene (PB): Black, oval-shaped, used for water service connection.
• Polyethylene (PE): Black, circular-shaped.
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).
• Blue: Potable water pipings.
• Gray, orange, or brown: Drainpipes with toxic components.

Joint info

• Iron Pipe Size (I.P.S.).
• BALL JOINT: Ball-shaped end in a cuplike shell for movement.
• BRAZED JOINT: Joining by melted alloy higher than 449° C.
• SOLDERED JOINT: Made of melted alloy between 149°C to 427°C.
• WELDED JOINT/SEAM: Joining metal parts in plastic molten state.
• CAULKING: Plugging an opening with oakum, lead, or other materials, pounded into an annular opening.
• OAKUM: Hemp or old hemp rope soaked in oil/tar to be waterproof.
• BELL or HUB: Enlarged portion to receive another pipe end for caulked or push-on joint.
• HUBLESS PIPES: Cast iron soil pipes with bolted stainless steel bands and neoprene gaskets.
• SHIELDED COUPLING: Elastomeric sealing gasket with protective outer shield/tightening mechanism.
• SLIP JOINT: Adjustable tubing connection with a compression nut, friction ring, and compression washer.

Pipe Materials

• 4.1 covers pipe material
  • Cast Iron Pipe: most popular & generally known for drainage

Cast iron and pipes

• Most popular for drainage systems.
• Durable; easily installed for buildings under 25 stories.
• SV Type: Generally used for buildings.
• XV Type: Extra duty for underground installations.

Acid resistant Cast Iron Pipe:

• Alloy of cast iron and silicon.
• Used in chemical laboratories/industries with acid waste.

Asbestos water pipes

• Made out of asbestos fibers and portland cement.

Joints for Cast Iron Pipes

• Caulked joints- for bell-and-spigot cast iron soil pipe
• Molten pig lead about 25.4mm deep.
• Maximum extension of the finished joint is below 3.2 mm
• Cast iron fittings up to 51 mm shall be galvanized

Lead pipes

• One of the oldest materials to construct.
• Highly resistant to acid, suitable for underground installment.
• Very dangerous to one's health
• For safe keeping pans should contain 19.56 kilograms/ per squem, Flashing or vent terminals= 14.63 kilograms/ per squerm Lead bends and lead traps should be 3.2 milimeters or thicker.

Vitrified clay Pipes:

• Made from clay and cast up to 75cm Durable and Highly resistant to acids.

Joints for Lead pipes

• Shall be formed to create uniform weld, as thick as it. for lap and burned lead Joints.
• Wipes Joints is should be at least 19 centimeters.

Galanized steel pipes

• Should be resistant to mild steer and cast to about 6 meters.
• Will corrod easily with alkaline and acid

Copper pipes

• Very durable/ Resistant material.
• Comes in both hard and soft form.
• Outside diameters are about 1/8"" higher than indside.

Joints to look out for

• Sold and Sweat Joints joints by copper fillings/brass.
• Lead cant be more that 0.2% on solder.

Thermoplastics

• Developed in Germany around 1953

Polyvenylcholride

• Are reliable, ridged and affordable.
• Should not be hotter than 60 celcius.

Abisocryonolite

• Good with high and low temperature.

Other Materials and Protections

• Unplasticised PVC are strong and low cost.
• Kem-Temp PVDF are tough and abrasive resistant.
• FIBERGLASS-REINFORCED; Good with heat. Galvanize or metal Pipe Sleeves
• Sheathes will help protect from corrosion.

Support for water pipes

• Supports max about 150 cm or so
• vertical
• Each level shall have it's own suppory

Piping components

• Reducers/Increaser: will be for smaller and vice versa
• Caps Tee joints.

Terms

• 6.5 details valves or components
• 6.6 Gravity (Supply tank) tanks need to use potalbe waterline.

Drainage and Sewage:

7. Drainage; conveying waste to disposal 7.1- Must go sewage drain. 7.2 Grades must be more than > 2

• must be supported.

industrial Waste

7. Industry waste
8. Location - Where the waste will come from. 7.5. is the Workmanship (how well its done)
9. What is the Direction or flow (what it looks like)

More info

• All types of material
• The minimum amount is 150cm
• AcP and plastic are used a lot.

7.8 size of fixtures

• Must follow those regulations.

Traps and Pipes requirements

• Shall have 102min

Seals

• Must contain 17B&S

Septic system

• Should not contain more than 2

Waste

• 75 celicus max temp in the drain.

8 vent system.

Check with diagram for location.